The Highlands are irreplaceable — yielding some of the finest single malt Whisky in the world. But there is something magic about Ross-shire. Along the southern coast of the Dornoch Firth at the base of ancient, Celtic limestone hills, a cluster of natural springs there feed a blessed few distilleries with what may be the best water in the world for Whisky.

John Ross founded Balblair in 1790. To this day they have only 1 wash and 1 spirit still. And 100% of production goes into their single malt vintage series — each one unique, rare, and special.

All Balblair Single Malts are issued by vintage, and this is no exception. Even though Balblair 2003 was aged 10 years exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks, that influence definitely takes a back seat. Instead, you definitely taste the malt dancing on the palate.

Think of it less as a “sit by a roaring Winter fire” dram and more of a “sit on the porch to watch the fireflies” kind of sipper.